The College of Communication and Information held the grand opening of the new Scripps Convergence Lab on Jan. 29 thanks to a grant given by the Scripps Howard Foundation.

The new Convergence Lab is located on the fourth floor of the CCI building and is available to all CCI students. The lab boasts 10 new iMac computers that will be outfitted with the latest editing software, conference rooms, video equipment and a designated area for focus groups.

John McNair, CCI director of technology, says that this will be a student area, first and foremost. The space was designed so that students in the college would have a place that is equipped for their needs and can accommodate all majors within the college.

This is the first time the students of this college have had a place like this, that is their own.
John McNair, CCI director of technology

"This is the first time the students of this college have had a place like this, that is their own," McNair said.

Development for this project started in October 2007 when the Scripps Howard Foundation awarded the college with a $500,000 grant. The grant has been given in installments of $125,000 over a four year period.

President and CEO of the Scripps Howard Foundation, Mike Philipps, said he believes that these facilities will allow the students to be more prepared for the workplace when they get there.

"What we're doing here today is not about us, it is about the young people," Philipps said. "The students who come into this room are going to reinvent this industry and they are going to reinvent our world."

The gift is part of "The Campaign for UT" which has a goal of $1 billion in fundraising for UT. CCI's personal goal of that $1 billon is $10 million. CCI has already raised 61 percent of their goal, largely because of the Scripps Howard Foundation's donation. This is the largest cash gift the college has received to date.

Renovations for the space began in late September 2009. Formerly used by system lawyers, the college thought the space would be better used as a gathering space for students.

The students who come into this room are going to reinvent this industry and they are going to reinvent our world.
Mike Philipps, president and CEO of the Scripps Howard Foundation

Michael Wirth, dean of the College of Communication and Information, is very optimistic about the impact the new resources will have on students' education.

"This is the first time the college has had a space that is a non-classroom space where the students can come and work and create and collaborate together," Wirth said. "It is a space that has been designed with that in mind."

As of now, the Scripps Convergence Lab will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The college is hoping to extend those hours when staffing for the space has been decided.

A broadcast of the dedication of the Scripps Convergence Lab can be found at www.tinyurl.com/scrippslab.